Translation and Meaning of: 服装 - fukusou

The Japanese word 「服装」 (fukusou) refers to clothing or attire. Its etymology goes back to two distinct kanjis: 「服」 (fuku), which means "clothes" or "uniform," and 「装」 (sou), which is related to "ornament" or "accessory." When combined, these characters express the idea of an outfit or way of dressing. The merging of these two kanjis encapsulates the essence of how we present ourselves through clothing.

In the context of Japanese culture, 「服装」 can encompass everything from daily wear to traditional garments like kimonos, reflecting an important part of social norms and traditions. Fashion and personal style are significant aspects of Japanese society, and discussing 「服装」 can often highlight the delicate balance between modernity and tradition present in Japanese clothing. Over the centuries, changes in cultural influences, from the West to the indigenous development itself, have been evident in the evolution of 「服装」.

Moreover, the word 「服装」 is not limited to casual or daily use. In a more formal context, it can refer to ceremonial attire, specific work clothes, or school uniforms, indicating the diversity and specificity of clothing categories in Japan. The versatility of the word is also reflected in different styles, such as 「カジュアル服装」 (kajuaru fukusou - casual wear) and 「フォーマルな服装」 (foumaru na fukusou - formal wear), showing how the use of the term can specify distinct social and cultural contexts.

Vocabulary

Expand your vocabulary with related words:

Synonyms and similar words

• 衣服 (ifuku) - Clothing in general, apparel.
• 衣装 (ishou) - Suit, clothing especially for presentations or events.
• 着物 (kimono) - Traditional Japanese garment, usually made of silk.
• ドレス (doresu) - Dress, normally Western and worn on formal occasions.
• ウェア (wea) - Clothing in general, often used in fashion or sports contexts.
• ファッション (fasshon) - Fashion, clothing style, and trends.

服装

Romaji: fukusou
Kana: ふくそう
Type: noun
L: jlpt-n3

Translation / Meaning: clothes

Meaning in English: garments

Definition: What do you wear to cover your body

Example Sentences - (服装) fukusou

See below some example sentences:

彼女の派手な服装が目立つ。

Kanojo no hadena fukusō ga medatsu

Her flashy clothes stand out.

• 彼女 (kanojo) - she
• の (no) - Possession particle
• 派手 (hade) - extravagant, flashy
• な (na) - adjectival particle
• 服装 (fukusou) - clothing, attire
• が (ga) - subject particle
• 目立つ (medatsu) - highlight, draw attention

きちんとした服装で会議に出席しました。

Kichinto shita fukusō de kaigi ni shusseki shimashita

I attended the meeting dressed appropriately.

I attended the meeting in proper clothing.

• きちんとした - well-groomed, well-dressed
• 服装 - clothing, attire
• で - indicates the means, the way something is done
• 会議 - meeting, conference
• に - indicates the place where something happens
• 出席 - presence, attendance
• しました - past tense of the verb "to do"

彼女の服装は見すぼらしいです。

Kanojo no fukusō wa misuborashii desu

Her clothes look bad.

Your clothes are shabby.

• 彼女 (kanojo) - she
• の (no) - Possessive particle
• 服装 (fukusou) - clothing, attire
• は (wa) - Topic particle
• 見すぼらしい (misuborashii) - Messy, careless
• です (desu) - verb to be in the polite form

彼女はだらしない服装をしている。

Kanojo wa darashinai fukusō o shite iru

She is dressed in a sloppy way.

She wears sloppy clothes.

• 彼女 (kanojo) - she
• は (wa) - Particle indicating the topic of the sentence
• だらしない (darashinai) - sloppy, messy
• 服装 (fukusou) - clothing, attire
• を (wo) - Particle indicating the direct object of the sentence
• している (shiteiru) - is wearing, is dressed

私は彼女の服装がとても素敵だと思います。

Watashi wa kanojo no fukusō ga totemo suteki da to omoimasu

I think her clothes are very beautiful.

I think her clothes are really cool.

• 私 - Japanese personal pronoun that means "I"
• は - Japanese particle that indicates the topic of the sentence, in this case, "I"
• 彼女 - Japanese noun meaning "she"
• の - Japanese particle that indicates possession, in this case, "hers."
• 服装 - Japanese noun meaning "clothing" or "clothes"
• が - Japanese particle that indicates the subject of the sentence, in this case, "clothing"
• とても - Japanese adverb that means "very"
• 素敵 - Japanese adjective meaning "beautiful" or "cool"
• だ - Japanese verb that indicates the existence or identity of the subject, in this case, "is"
• と - Japanese particle that indicates a direct quotation of what was said or thought, in this case, "to think"
• 思います - Japanese verb that means "to think" or "to believe"